Champions League draw: Start time, confirmed pots, qualified teams and how to watch

The Champions League is almost back and this afternoon sees the league phase draw confirmed with a ceremony in Monaco.

Three months on from Paris Saint-Germain retaining their title on penalties against Arsenal in Budapest, this season’s competition takes shape, as each of the 36 teams discovers their eight league phase matches.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool are the English teams involved, but there is no Celtic – the Scottish champions crashed out in the play-off round after a stunning defeat to LASK.

Other big-hitters in pot one include holders PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League league phase draw.

When is the Champions League league phase draw?

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw starts at 5pm BST (12pm ET) today, Thursday August 27.

The draw will arrange the eight matches each team contests in the 36-team first phase – facing two teams from pots one, two, three and four. Half of the matches will be at home, the other half away.

Where can I watch the Champions League draw?

The draw will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max in the United Kingdom, the joint host broadcasters in the UK of the Champions League alongside Prime Video.

Champions League draw pots in full

Pot 1

PSG
Bayern Munich
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Inter Milan
Manchester City
Arsenal
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid

Pot 2

Borussia Dortmund
Roma
Sporting
Aston Villa
Porto
Manchester United
Club Brugge
Real Betis
PSV Eindhoven

Pot 3

Feyenoord
Lille
Bodo/Glimt
Napoli
RB Leipzig
Villarreal
Fenerbahce
Shakhtar Donetsk
Galatasaray

Pot 4

Slavia Prague
Slovan Bratislava
VfB Stuttgart
AEK Athens
LASK
Como
Lens
Viking
Sabah

How does the Champions League league phase work?

The top eight all automatically qualify for the last-16, while teams positioned ninth to 24th place qualify for the knockout-phase play-off. Teams finishing between ninth and 16th will be seeded and will host the second leg.

Teams who finish the league phase 25th or lower are out and do not drop into the Europa League.

PSG are targeting a third consecutive Champions League title (AP)